Let me start out by saying this: I’m all for bipartisanship. I think there is far too much party-over-the-people bickering in Washington, particularly in Congress. We need to see less ideology and more pragmatism from our lawmakers.
But this is just ridiculous.
Why are we listening to the Republicans on the stimulus bill? Why are we buying into the rants of an obstinate, obstructive party that is out of ideas and clinging to Reagan’s Greatest Hits of the Eighties?
Why are Republicans now suddenly concerned about the national debt when former Vice President Dick Cheney famously declared in 2004, “Reagan taught us that deficits don’t matter”? The party that took our country from a projected surplus in 2000 to the highest national debt ever (hint, it’s not the Democrats) is now chiding the other party for spending money during a legitimate crisis.
Why is $800 billion to stabilize our country in a deep recession so egregious to fiscal conservatives, when those same “fiscal conservatives” cheerfully passed a $1.3 TRILLION dollar tax cut in 2001? The Bush tax cuts benefited a small portion of Americans while simultaneously increasing our debt and decreasing the country’s income needed to pay off that very debt.
Why did 36 of 41 senate Republicans recently vote for scrapping the current stimulus bill and going with a $950 billion dollar tax cut? The big problem with tax cuts as catch-all solution is that when the money is spent it’s gone and you have nothing to show for it. At least with infrastructure and spending we have tangible buildings, roads, bridges, and investments to show for it.
Why are Republicans, who blocked a mortgage bailout for homeowners this past summer, now suddenly convinced that we absolutely need to have a mortgage bailout for homeowners?
Why are Republicans criticizing sending money to state governments who can’t pay their bills? It sounds nice to say, “Take responsibility and balance your budget,” but in reality it will just lead to massive layoffs across the country in an economy that already has the worst job losses in 30 years.
Why are Republicans ridiculing things like purchasing a new fleet of fuel-efficient cars? The government would save money in the long run by using efficient vehicles and this would provide a large work order for troubled American car companies.
Why are Republicans insisting on cutting funding for food stamps, the most effective per-dollar stimulus on record? Not to mention it helps out families hit hard by the recession.
Why are we taking advice from a party that had an economic summit with Joe the Plumber? (Seriously, they are asking an unlicensed plumber/campaign prop for economic policy advice).
Why are Republicans and pundits pushing the myth that FDR prolonged the Great Depression? Looking up the numbers shows that FDR cut unemployment from mid 20s to 10% by 1937, in addition to seeing good economic growth. When in 1937 politicians demanded that FDR balance the budget and he cut programs and raised taxes, the economy relapsed.
What exactly are Republicans up in arms about? Democrats have capitulated to them on numerous fronts. Tax cuts have crept up as a larger and larger percentage of the bill, and many things the Republicans wanted cut were taken out (and replaced with tax cuts).
Yet the Republicans are still not happy. The recent 36/41 vote showed what is really going on here: The Republicans don’t want any stimulus to pass, and if one absolutely has to, they want it to be 100% tax cuts.
Republicans found a great strategy here: Crucify the man who ran on bipartisanship. Because Obama espoused a platform of compromise and working together, the Republicans realized they could whine their way to getting whatever they wanted or Obama and the Democrats were being “partisan.” Sorry, but bipartisanship means compromise, not getting everything you want or you walk away with your toys.
My question to Obama is: Why are you letting the Republicans push you around? Why are you bending over backwards for a party that has clearly rejected all compromise?
That’s a question I want answered.
Tags: Bailout, bipartisan, bipartisanship, compromise, Congress, Democrat, gridlock, infrastructure, Joe the Plumber, Obama, obstruction, questions, Republican, stimulus, tax cut
February 8, 2009 at 10:00 am
I do not understand why people are having diffculty understanding. The number of unemployed people (11.6 million) and the unemployment rate (7.6 percent) rose in January. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 4.1 million. The Department of Labor reported today that nonfarm payroll employment fell sharply in January (-598,000) and the unemployment rate rose from 7.2 to 7.6 percent. Payroll employment has declined by 3.6 million since the start of the recession in December 2007, …. most of this mess happening only in past three months! And some wonder Obama is pushing so hard for a stimulus package. Is the Herbert Hoover approach, do nothing, all we need, leading us to a twelve year depression ??
February 8, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Obama is letting the publicans have a say on account of they are still the powers that be in this country. They aren’t going under rocks for the next four years and they have ALL the money. More money than God or Microsoft. Bipartisanship isn’t two political parties. Bipartisanship is the Haves and the Have Nots. The Have Nots are growing in number everyday. The Have Nots now include the middle class. Big mistake on the part of the Haves, since everyone knows that the middle class is the most revolutionary class.
February 8, 2009 at 1:13 pm
addendum: Did you get the socks and underwear auntie sent?
February 9, 2009 at 9:39 am
Pretty much what I’ve been saying in bits and pieces for the past week or so. It’s the party of economic idiocy.
Pretty much all I have left to say.
February 9, 2009 at 11:26 am
Actually,
and this is in light of Boehner’s recent charge that the stimulus bill is “Generational theft” in terms of enriching us now and putting the next gen in the poorhouse, I think the fiscal sins of the Republicans deserve a real clear ennumeration – putting together an official list if its something you’d care to help me with.
February 9, 2009 at 4:15 pm
You kids are getting so robbed by these Fagins that all I can offer is a hearty “Tra-La La Boomer de-a!!!” Fiscal Sin, wasn’t that a disco group back in the 80s? They had one big hit: SELL OUT. And the democrats walking around in rubber FDR masks can answer for some of this mess, too. Generational Theft? That’s the definition of social security.
Off-topic…Jackson, it looks like a mis-trial for your cousin, Gary! You know your auntie said all along how was Gary suppose to know that girl got in the trunk of his car?